Weird National Park Unit Highway Signage

[Max Rockatansky]

In my travels I have been to forty of the National Parks, probably another forty of the National Monuments and countless other "National Park Units."  One thing that I have consistently found is that the signage within the parks is bizarre, especially the signage that is supposed to direct you back to a highway.  I encountered these beasts out in Yosemite this past Thursday while heading over Tioga Pass:

The white California Miner's Spades:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7204911,-119.6299125,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRr-lX9YbZi1DAqSQgOvopw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

The California Miner's Spade with no "California" in them and a MUTCD compliant US 395 as opposed to the standard California Cut-Out Shield:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7190132,-119.680411,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAcf0leBdYRqF8vz7n45mDA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I'll drum some other examples down the line but I can swear there was a cut-out US 180 shield somewhere in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  I would love to see some other examples of these signs.

[pianocello]

Until somtime between 2011 and 2014, there was a US-110 in Arlington, VA: https://goo.gl/maps/FB1iwTBHUnz

[StogieGuy7]

I actually prefer the white spade - looks cleaner.  The original spade from prior to 1964 looked a lot nicer than the green ones that replaced them.

[Max Rockatansky]

I actually prefer the white spade - looks cleaner.  The original spade from prior to 1964 looked a lot nicer than the green ones that replaced them.

I agree, it would have looked nicer with the bear though. 

[Max Rockatansky]

Until somtime between 2011 and 2014, there was a US-110 in Arlington, VA: https://goo.gl/maps/FB1iwTBHUnz

That's a hell of a screw up for a state route.

[SSOWorld]

In my travels I have been to forty of the National Parks, probably another forty of the National Monuments and countless other "National Park Units."  One thing that I have consistently found is that the signage within the parks is bizarre, especially the signage that is supposed to direct you back to a highway.  I encountered these beasts out in Yosemite this past Thursday while heading over Tioga Pass:

The white California Miner's Spades:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7204911,-119.6299125,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRr-lX9YbZi1DAqSQgOvopw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

The California Miner's Spade with no "California" in them and a MUTCD compliant US 395 as opposed to the standard California Cut-Out Shield:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7190132,-119.680411,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAcf0leBdYRqF8vz7n45mDA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I'll drum some other examples down the line but I can swear there was a cut-out US 180 shield somewhere in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  I would love to see some other examples of these signs.

Also the US Route shield being the stock black background style...

[Max Rockatansky]

In my travels I have been to forty of the National Parks, probably another forty of the National Monuments and countless other "National Park Units."  One thing that I have consistently found is that the signage within the parks is bizarre, especially the signage that is supposed to direct you back to a highway.  I encountered these beasts out in Yosemite this past Thursday while heading over Tioga Pass:

The white California Miner's Spades:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7204911,-119.6299125,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRr-lX9YbZi1DAqSQgOvopw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

The California Miner's Spade with no "California" in them and a MUTCD compliant US 395 as opposed to the standard California Cut-Out Shield:

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7190132,-119.680411,3a,75y,270h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAcf0leBdYRqF8vz7n45mDA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

I'll drum some other examples down the line but I can swear there was a cut-out US 180 shield somewhere in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  I would love to see some other examples of these signs.

Also the US Route shield being the stock black background style...

Yep, that's what's rare about it.  Makes me wonder where the Parks Service got it because it sure wasn't Caltrans.    Apparently there is more than one in Yosemite:



Found this Green Arizona State 64 sign from the Grand Canyon in the aaroads gallery:

[cpzilliacus]

Until somtime between 2011 and 2014, there was a US-110 in Arlington, VA: https://goo.gl/maps/FB1iwTBHUnz

There was at least one U.S. 123 on the George Washington Memorial Parkway approaching Va. 123, but they were replaced years ago.

[Quillz]

I actually prefer the white spade - looks cleaner.  The original spade from prior to 1964 looked a lot nicer than the green ones that replaced them.

I never thought I'd agree, but the more I look at the old white spades, I agree. And nowadays, black-on-white is probably more legible due to improved sheeting and what not. (You can actually made a "modern" bear shield fairly easily, take the green-on-white spade, change the color, adjust the legend a bit, then throw on a bear logo.)

I just came back from Glacier Nat'l Park, and I recall the various brown signs there referencing US-89, which is nearby. However, the legend was Series C, not Series D as would be the standard.

[Max Rockatansky]

I actually prefer the white spade - looks cleaner.  The original spade from prior to 1964 looked a lot nicer than the green ones that replaced them.

I never thought I'd agree, but the more I look at the old white spades, I agree. And nowadays, black-on-white is probably more legible due to improved sheeting and what not. (You can actually made a "modern" bear shield fairly easily, take the green-on-white spade, change the color, adjust the legend a bit, then throw on a bear logo.)

I just came back from Glacier Nat'l Park, and I recall the various brown signs there referencing US-89, which is nearby. However, the legend was Series C, not Series D as would be the standard.

I think that vaguely remember seeing that sign last year when I was coming down the east side of the Going-to-the-sun-Road.  God US 89 is a total wreck up there north of Browning, I actually went over MT 49 to Two Medicine Lake just to get off it....I can't believe that it was signed up to 65 MPH.

Anyways, wasn't there a whole big thing back really before reflective sheeting got good that Caltrans found the green signs to stand out better than the white?  Funny thing just hit me today when I was up in Yosemite...it's actually probably the most well signed area in any part of rural California.  There are speed limit, advisory signage for almost every curve and of course wonky but plentiful guide signs.  Usually we just get one 55 MPH speed limit sign and that's it.